Kent Austin, who led Saskatchewan to the 2007 Grey Cup, joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as their head coach and GM last December after three seasons as Cornell’s head coach. Austin has CFL experience, both as a player and coach, and takes over a Ticats squad that missed the playoffs last season with a 6-12 record.

The Ticats camp will be held at McMaster University but they’ll play this season at Alumni Stadium in Guelph, Ont., while a new stadium is built in Hamilton. The CFL squad is scheduled to move into the new venue in 2014.

But Austin won’t have star receiver Chris Williams in camp. Williams, who had a club-record 17 TDs last year and was the league’s top special-teams player, is embroiled in a nasty dispute with Hamilton.

Williams wants out of his CFL deal — reportedly to pursue NFL options — and has gone to arbitration. Both sides are now awaiting that decision.

Meanwhile in Montreal, former NCAA head coach Dan Hawkins has replaced Marc Trestman as Alouettes head coach. Trestman led the Als to a 59-31 regular-season record and two Grey Cups over five seasons before being named the Chicago Bears’ head coach.

This will mark Hawkins’ first exposure to Canadian football. Trestman arrived in Montreal in 2008 with no previous coaching experience in Canada and quickly adjusted to the 12-man, three-down game.

Fortunately for Hawkins, veteran Anthony Calvillo returns for a 20th CFL season and 16th with Montreal. The 40-year-old is pro football’s all-time passing leader and is coming off consecutive 5,000-yard seasons.

There will be a prominent new face in Saskatchewan’s camp. Veteran slotback Geroy Simon prepares for his first season in Regina after spending the last 12 years with B.C.

Hamstring injuries limited Simon to 54 catches for 700 yards and two TDs in 2012 — the first time in 10 years Simon didn’t crack the 1,000-yard receiving plateau. B.C. dealt the 37-year-old to Saskatchewan with the Riders hoping Simon — the league’s career receiving yards leader — can complement speedy Weston Dressler (94 catches, 1,206 yards, 13 TDs).

Simon also needs just 29 receptions to become the most prolific receiver in CFL history.

Change is the operative word in B.C.’s camp as GM Wally Buono revamped his roster in the off-season following the club’s West Division final loss to Calgary.

The 2011 Grey Cup champions finished atop the West Division with a league-best 13-5 record under rookie head coach Mike Benevides before their season-ending loss to Calgary.

Lulay, 29, the CFL’s 2011 outstanding player, signed a contract extension reportedly worth $450,000 annually that would make him one of the league’s highest-paid players. Lulay had a career-best 66.5 per cent completion average last year, passing for 4,231 yards with 27 TD tosses and just 10 interceptions despite a late-season shoulder ailment.

Lulay was bothered by back issues during B.C.’s mini-camp but afterwards declared himself healthy for camp.

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